Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was refused their entitlement under the domiciliary care scheme; and if she will re-examine the case. [43943/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full-time so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received by the Department on 1st October 2009. This application was referred to one of the Departments Medical Assessors who found that the child in question was not medically eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. All the evidence submitted with the application was made available for consideration by the Department's Medical Assessor.

A letter issued to the person in question on 3rd November 2009 where she was advised of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance on medical grounds. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the case to be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor specially designated for this task.

Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. No request for review or appeal has yet been received.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a jobseeker's allowance payment has ceased for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [44009/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Payment of jobseeker's allowance to the person concerned was temporarily suspended pending determination of his entitlement to continued payment under the part-time education option. He now qualifies for jobseeker's allowance under this option and payment has been reinstated. Arrears of the jobseeker's allowance in respect of the period of suspension have also been paid to him.